Acetylene generator



Nav. 24, 1925.

C. J. CLEFTON ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed May 15, 1922 1 n f l n 1 u r[NVE/vro Cuz/0 J CLEF-FON Patented Nov. 2d, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFlCl.

eLAUn J. omirroiv, or owATonnA, MINNESOTA, assisnon ro :eurer P.crearon, or

owAmonNA, niivnnsora. v

Aoi-MYLENE aniinnaron.

Application :filed May 15, 1922. Serial No. 561,244.

.- citizen of the United States, resident of Owatonna, county of Steele.State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAcetylene Generators, of which the following is a specilication.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means for sealing themain carbide hopper of an acetylene .generator against the entrance ofair, said sealing means being adapted to open to allow the deposit of anight charge from the auxiliary hopper into the main hopper, and also topermit the insertion of a filling funnel to deliver a considerable bodyof carbide to the main hopper.

The invention consists generally in va rions constructions andcombinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a front View, partially in secr tion, of a carbide generatorembodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a detail sectional View, showing the position assumed by thesealing means when the gas bell is down and the auxiliary hopper is inposition to deliver a night charge,

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the sealing means open and a fillingfunnel in position for delivering carbide to the main hopper, t n

Figure 4 shows the sealing means in its closed position when the fillingfunnel is removed.

In the drawing, 2 represents an acetylene gas generator having a waterchamber 3 and a bell 4: fitting between the jacket 5 of the generatorand an inner shell or sleeve 6. This bell rises and falls in the spacebetween the sleeve 6 and thejacket 5 of the generator as the supply ofgas increases or decreases. 7 is the main carbide hopper, fitting withinthe sleeve 6 andI having a hopper bottom S with an opening 9 .throughwhich the carbide is discharged into the water tank beneath. The hopperhas aclosed top 10 and an opening 11 therein encircled by a sleeve 12and the top of the gas bell has a sleeve 13 depending therefrom andadapted to telescope with the sleeve 12 and when the hell is in its downposition, the

sleeve 13 rests on the top of the main hopper and forms an air-tightjoint therewith. An auxiliary hopper 111 has a jacket 14h provided witha flange 1110 to rest upon the top of the gas bell, thelower end of saidjacket fitting within the opening' in said bell and the sleeves 12 and13. Thishopper is adapted to contain a supply of carbide for the nightcharge, and has a valve 14a, a cover 15, a yoke 16 .and a screw 17mounted in the yoke and adapted to engage a lug 17'. This auxiliaryhopper is removed b`odily from the bell for filling purposes and throughthe opening in the top of the bell when the auxiliary hopper is removed,carbide may oe delivered to the main hopper. A port 16 is provided inthe top of the main hopper encircled by a gasket 19 and a valve 2O ismounted on an arm 21 pivoted at 22 on one side of the opening 18 and isseated against the underside of the gasket 19 for closing the passagetherethrough, said valve being normally held in its closed position by acoiled spring 23. This valve seals the opening to the main hopper but ispushed open by contact with the lower end of the auxiliary hopper whenthe bell has nearly reached the liinit of its downward movement and mayalso be pushed open by the lower end of the lling funnel 2e that isthrust into the opening in the bell when it is desired to fill the mainhopper with carbide. When the sealing valve is opened by engagement withthe lower end of the auxiliary hopper, the valve 111@ may be opened toallow the night charge to fall into the hopper beneath. As the bellbegins to rise through the formation of gas, the sealing valve willclose automatically and prevent the entrance of air into the main hopperwhile the auxiliary hopper is being removed for filling purposes or forthe insertion o-f the main filling funnel at which time there wouldordinarily be a direct passage between the main hopper and the outsideair. This passage will be closed by the sealing valve the instant thelower end of the auxiliary hopper or the filling funnel is withdrawnfrom the opening into the main hopper.

I claim as my invention:

1. An acetylene generator comprising a main hopper, a gas bellencircling said hopper, the top of said hopper having a filling openingand otherwise closed, said bell havi ng a filling opening an auxiliaryhopper oi' filling funnel adapted to litnto saidl fillingopening andmeans mounted to close the filling opening in said main. hopperegainstthe passage of air thereto and ymove; to an open position when engagedby said auxiliary hopper o1' filling funnel.

2. In combination, with an acetylene generator, Ya carbide hoppenheving.a closed top and a iillng opening therein, and a gas bell encirclingsaid hoppen and,7 havinga fillingx opening oppositethe oxningA in Sadfhopper, eta Valve arranged tolnornielly close the iilllng Vopening intoSeidhopp'er mid open under` pressureV thereon through Said gas bellopening to allo-W. lionT of the carbide i into saidAY hopper.`

CLUD JL GLEF'ION.

